Ep 159: Pulling the bone over their eyes



Pulling the bone over their eyes

The fossil record contains, at best, only a few percent of any given ecology during any given time. To complicate the picture, some of the fossils are fakes. From money to reputation to jokes, there are many reasons why such fossil hoaxes are perpetrated. Today we look at a few examples of, and motivations for, false fossils.

Here’s an article about the Archaeoraptor hoax.

Is it a bird? Is it a dinosaur? No, it’s a fake

Here’s an article on the Piltdown man hoax.

Piltdown Man

And here’s an article on the Calaveras skull hoax.

The Notorious Calaveras Skull